Birth Worker Spotlight/Isis A. Rose
How long have you been working in the maternal health field? What brought you to this work and what ignites your passion for it?
I have been involved with birth work since 2016. It was actually my dissertation research that led me to studying the social and cultural significance of doulas in the context of the crisis in maternal and infant mortality in the United States. When I decided to become a doula, I learned how doulas fall under the midwifery model of care and that both doulas and midwives are doing important work to improve birth experiences and birth outcomes. I'm passionate about educating Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) about our choices in childbirth and the importance of advocating for better birth in the face of racism as well as implicit and structural biases.
In what area/s do you serve professionally and regionally?
I have been a doula since 2016 and an independent doula in 2019 when I started Isis A. Rose, Birth and Postpartum Services. I received my lactation counselor certification (CLC) in March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic challenged me to grow and revealed a need for virtual doula services including childbirth education and lactation classes which I currently teach via Zoom. Out-of-hospital birth is my passion and I have also worked with local midwives as a certified birth assistant. After my daughter was born at home in 2018, I knew I would eventually become a midwife. I've been a midwifery student since 2020 pursuing a CPM or certified professional midwife credential. I recently joined the Winter 2022 cohort at Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery, a MEAC-accredited school, founded by birth activist and midwife Jennie Joseph. I'm based in Urbana-Champaign and have served East Central Illinois as a doula, CLC, birth assistant and out-of-hospital birth advocate. I have travelled as far north as Bloomington and as far west as Peoria to serve families. There is definitely a huge need for more BIPOC doulas in Central Illinois including Urbana-Champaign.
This year’s theme for Black Maternal Health Week is “Building for Liberation Centering Black Mamas, Black Families & Black Systems of Care.” Why do you think this theme is important in the climate of Black Maternal Health? How do you think our local community can work to Center Black Mamas, Families, and Systems of Care?
Normalizing physiologic birth in the Black community is one of many steps toward more liberated birthing and parenting. I see out-of-hospital birth as one way in which Black birthing people can circumvent inadequate care in settings which have failed to address why Black people are more likely to experience poor birth outcomes including death, injury, and insult. Out-of-hospital settings have a unique opportunity to provide more holistic and well-rounded care to their clients. I loved having my midwife because I had excellent prenatal care and continuity of care. For example, the typical postpartum experience is having one visit with your provider at six weeks postpartum. However, the midwifery model of care recognizes the importance of seeing families several times within the first six weeks to support lactation, mental health, and physical health of the birthing person.Our local communities can support Black mamas and Black birthing people by supporting Black and BIPOC birth workers and asking midwives and OB/GYNs about the steps they have taken in their training to ensure culturally relevant and safe care for all people especially people most affected by disparities in maternal health.
There is a long way to come in terms of Black Maternal Care in our country, but do you have any moments of triumph or joy to share in relation to being a Black Mama or Black Birth worker? Moments where you have come alongside someone or someone in our community has come alongside you?
I get immense joy from serving parents, especially first-time parents who feel they would have otherwise been unheard or allowed to fall through the cracks of the healthcare system. I have especially felt the most joy in the last year since I have been able to connect with like-minded people who are really dedicated to shifting the narrative for Black folks as it relates to birth. Birthy people, we've probably all heard by now that "Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy and birth-related causes than white women." And, while this may be true, I work to address solutions to the problem. I found great joy working with other solutions-oriented people including student midwife Chae Pounds who co-hosts Homecoming Podcast with me as well as Victoria "Toria" Baez and Michelle Burton who are local BIPOC doulas and advocates who share my vision of creating a more robust infrastructure of BIPOC birth professionals and parents so that we may find community and co-plan events for future Black Maternal Health Weeks and even Black Breastfeeding Week!
Tell us about what's coming up for you? Where can we find out more about your work or more resources about Black Maternal Health?
I'm the co-founder of BIPOC for Better Birth, a fiscally sponsored project of the Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center. We are a part of a nonprofit incubator program and are excited to pursue our own 501(c)3 status within the year. We are currently planning our maternal mental health event to be held on Sunday, May 1 in Urbana. This event is funded in part by a Urbana Arts Grant awarded by the City of Urbana Arts and Culture Program. This is a workshop intended for BIPOC postpartum people to share their stories in a safe space. For more information, please visit our website, our event registration form, our subscriber page, and consider making a donation to support our mission. To support my journey as a Black student midwife, please consider making a donation via GoFundme or directly via Venmo @isis-rose. My goal is to become the first Black licensed, certified professional midwife in Urbana (and East Central Illinois) and open my out-of-hospital midwifery practice in 2025.
Thank you Isis for sharing your perspective with us and for your continued contributions to our communities!
